ISAIAH 44: 6-8
Today I want to talk for a little while about “IDOLS & IDOLATRY”
From all I’ve read to do with this subject, Isaiah 44: is the best scripture in the entire bible on this subject, as we began to read & study these vss.we will see that Isaiah is amazed and at the same time disgusted how any one could be so blinded to the ignorance of the very idea of people worshipping a man made object.
And let me say right here that I’m certainly not trying to belittle any one because I don’t know for sure whose listening, but what my hope & pray is, is that many people might be helped from what we are about to read from the WORD of GOD.
Keep in mind here, that God is dealing with His chosen people Israel, but the truths of this subject is for any one that might be tied up in such as this.
Bible scholars agree that these verses here in Isaiah 44: are the best in the entire bible to do with exposing the ignorance of worshiping idols.
6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
7And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
8Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Let me say that the God we trust in is a God of incontestable sovereignty and irresistible power. He is the Lord, Jehovah, self-existent and self-sufficient; and He is the Lord of hosts, ~~of all the hosts of heaven and earth, of angels and men.
When God would assert himself God alone he proclaims Himself Israel’s God that His people may be encouraged both to depend on Him and to triumph in Him.
. That He is eternal—the first and the last. He is God from everlasting, before the worlds were, and will be so to everlasting, when the world shall be no more.
If there were not a God to create, nothing would ever have been; and, if there were not a God to uphold, all would soon come to nothing again.
The whole idea of making idols seemed ridiculous to Isaiah "Isaiah points to the mere humanity of the craftsmen (10-11), their frailty (12) and the man-dominated conceptions governing their theology.
The reason is that the makers of these gods are mere men. Rather than God creating man, man creates gods.
This makes man superior to his gods. The fact that there are many people in this group of idol makers and worshippers does not change the fact that all of them will be ashamed by the impotence of their gods.
These vss. 9-20 on idolatry are the most powerful in the entire Bible!**** Here the prophet Isaiah, serving as the spokesman of Jehovah, shows the utter foolishness of idolatry.
." God’s claims (vv. 6-8) contrast with the folly of idolatry and the worldview from which it springs (vv. 9-20).
God’s initiative contrasts with human initiative.
Listen closely as I read all these verses, 9- 20,
9They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed
10Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
. Isaiah called them “nothings,” and that is what they are. They cannot help anyone.
11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
Listen as Isaiah points out the fact that their all only weak & feeble men with all the problems of man, and here they are ,their going tomake for them selves gods.
12The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house **
. 14He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
16He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:”
17And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith,” Deliver me; for thou art my god.”
18They have not known nor understood: for He hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?”
20He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
The utter stupidity of idolatry and pagan religion is exposed here to be the most scathing attack in the entire Bible.
What is worse is not only that the pagan would worship this so-called god, but also that he prayed unto it and expects it to deliver him,
Isaiah condemns the idol worshipers for shutting their eyes and their hearts.
Thus it is that they cannot see and cannot understand truth in the spiritual realm.
To the mind of God, such idolatry is an abomination (thoµ>ebah, abhorrence).
The prophet Isaiah’s criticism of one who would worship an idol carved from the same tree that he would use for firewood is that He is feeding on ashes.
The ultimate problem of the unbeliever, whether he is an idolater or a modern agnostic, is that he has a deceived (huµthal, cheated) heart.
His ultimate condemnation shall be that he cannot deliver his soul from judgment because what he holds in his right hand (i.e., an idol) is really a lie.
Idolatry:
Portrayed. ,here is a good picture of what worshipping idols will lead a person to do. 2 K 16:3. 2Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. 3But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. 4And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
An idol cheats man as it can do nothing, only stand on its man made edge.
When man could and should be serving and worshipping the True and Living God.
Is 46:5. 5To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? 6They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. 7They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. 8Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Provoking to God, God will not allow man to get by forever.
Ex 22:20. 20He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
The people who do such are lost and hell bound sinners
Ep 2:3. 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Here is what happens to idol worshippers:
Je 44: 24Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:
25Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.
26Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth. 27Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be
consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.
If a person really wants to worship God and be in good standing with Him, here is what he or she must do:
Jn 6:2 28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? ”
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
